BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- More metro stations in Beijing have installed thermal imaging systems for taking passengers' body temperature in an effort to improve passenger flow, its operators said Thursday.

Beijing has required subway passengers to undergo body temperature checks when entering stations since Jan. 31 in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The thermal imaging system can issue an alert when detecting passengers with abnormal body temperatures and monitor the temperatures continuously, according to Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Ltd.

The first batch of thermal imaging systems was installed on Jan. 26 in stations with heavy traffic and, as of Monday, 35 metro stations had installed the system.

Beijing operates 23 metro lines with a distance of 699 km and 405 stations.